Seal applying mechanism



June 1959 w. B. EDDISON ETAL 2,890,558

SEAL APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1'7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTORS WILLIAM BARTON EDDISON WARREN E. ERICKSON BY a d/M01 $52M wiforngs June 16, 1959 w, mso 2,890,558

SEAL APPLYING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1956 I ilt! AR I In /0.1.

INVENTORS WILLIAM BARTON EDDISON WARREN E. ERICKSON June 16, 1959 W. B. EDDISON ET AL SEAL APPLYING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 17, 1956 June 16, 1959 w. B, EDDISON ETAL SEAL APPLYING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept; 17, 1956 24 fl Z INVENTORS LIAM BARTON EDDISON WARREN E. ERICKSON f wu.

w. B. EDDISON ETAL 2,890,558

I SEAL APPLYING MECHANISM June 13, 1959 Filed Sept. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A /Mm,

INVENTORS WILLIAM BARTON EDDISON BY WARREN E. ERICKSON and m United States Patent 2,890,558 Patented June 16, 1959 SEAL APPLYIN G MECHANISM William Barton Eddison, Ardsley-on-Hudson, N.Y., and Warren E. Erickson, Madison, Wis., assignors to Gisholt Machine Company, Madison, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 17, 1956, Serial No. 610,280 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-29Z) This invention relates to a seal applying mechanism, and more particularly to an air jet mechanism for use in conjunction with a seal applying head to facilitate troublefree application of tubular seals to bottle tops and the like.

The present invention is an improvement on a mechanism such as that described in the copending application of William Barton Eddison, one of the present applicants, Serial No. 410,194, filed February 15, 1954, now Patent No. 2,815,627; and on a mechanism such as that described in the copending application of the present applicants, Serial No. 423,975, filed April 19, 1954, now Patent No. 2,826,884.

As disclosed in the above-identified applications, the seal applying heads are adapted to pick a tubular seal oil from a two finger head, to open the seal to a substantially cylindrical shape and turn the axis thereof to a vertical direction, and then to apply the seal downwardly upon a capped bottle top indexed therewith. The seal subsequently shrinks onto the bottle.

Difficulties have arisen with the above heads when seals were to be applied to bottles or other containers having a cover or cap with an outwardly rolled annular rim thereon. This was especially true with bottles such as fruit jars which have a relatively wide month. As the stripper mechanism pushed a seal off from the fingers of the head, the lower edge of the seal caught on the cover rim and was prevented from further downward movement. This prevented the seal from bridging the gap between the cap and the bottle and thereby destroyed the seals function.

To obviate such difficulty and prevent catching of the seal on the cover, a seal of greater diameter could be used. However, a larger seal might be displaced from its proper position on the bottle prior to shrinkage and also would not shrink sufliciently to tighten onto the bottle and top. This would destroy the function of the seal.

The present invention solves the above problem and is based on the discovery that a stream or jet of air directed outwardly from the ends of the seal applying fingers at timed intervals will expand the seal sufiiciently so that the seal will pass over the obstruction with no difliculty.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a portion of the machine showing the function of the heads;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken detail vertical axial section of the machine, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and with parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the valve mechanism taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the head in seal applying position with parts in section and showing the seal stripping mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the head facing the fingers;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken axially of the head on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the fingers with parts broken away and sectioned;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing application of a seal to a jar top just prior to use of the air jet; and v Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the seal as the air jet is applied. 7 V

As shown in the drawings, the seal applying device comprises, generally, a rotary member 1 which rotates on a vertical axis and above a rotary table 2 having means thereon for carrying successive jars or bottles 3, each indexed beneath a head 4 for application of a seal 5 to the bottle top. V

During rotation of member 1 a head 4 first passes a pick-up station where it picks up a seal 5 from a'twofinger head 6 carried by a rotating member 7.

After picking up a seal 5 each head 4 is carried in a circular path by member 1 and a bottle 3 is indexed therebeneath. Thereupon a fixed cam 8 adjacent the path of the head 4 is engaged by a cam follower 9 at the end of a crank 10 to turn the head through to present the seal 5 in vertical alignment with the bottle top. A second fixed cam 11 adjacent the path ofthe'head is then engaged by a follower 12 on the end of a lever 13 pivotally carried by the head 4 and which actuates a stripper plate 14 which forces the seal down onto the bottle top in a manner to be described. a

The rotary member 1 carries a plurality of heads 4 spaced circumferentially of the member and eachmou nted on a separate bracket 15.

Each bracket 15 is shaped like a clevis with two upstanding spaced arms carrying a horizontal shaft 16 adapted to be fixed in selected adjustable rotational position. Shaft 16 carries a generally cylindrical cam body 17 which is keyed to the shaft to secure the cam body in adjusted rotational position determined by the adjusted position of the shaft.

The housing 18 for each head 4 is mounted for rotation on cam body 17 by means of anti-friction ball" bearings 19. A slide chamber 20 is disposed in housing 18 above cam body 17 and extends parallel thereto with the side of the chamber toward the cam body open to accommodate cam actuation described hereinafter.

Chamber 20 is generally rectangular in sectionand c'ontains four slide plates 21 disposed in spaced relationship. Slide plates 21 are adapted for slidable movement within chamber 20 and extend outwardly from one end of the chamber. Each slide plate carries two laterally extending fingers 22, one at each side of the plate and at "the outer end thereof. The top andbottom plates 21 have flanges 23 for carrying the corresponding fingers '22 while the intermediate plates carry their fingers laterally spaced apart and near to the longitudinal center line of the corresponding plates.

When side plates 21are at their extreme retracted position within chamber 20, fingers 22 are closed together to form four laterally spaced pairs of fingers. When plates 21 are longitudinally extended outwardly from chamber 20, fingers 22 are opened as in Fig. 4. 8 i.

The movement of slide plates 21 is effected by a suit able cam mechanism best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6 and described in the above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 410,194. Rotation of housing 18 through 90- relative to cam body 17, from a position where slide chamber 20 is above the cam body to a position to one side of the cam body, causes slide plate 21 to move lofigi 7o tudinally outwardy of chamber 20 and separate fingers crank 10 and cam 8 as previously described.

The seal is stripped from fingers 22 and applied onto :an indexed top of a bottle 3 by stripper plate 14 which is disposed normal to fingers 22 and is suitably slottedto .allow the fingers to pass therethrough and expand and contract, Stripper plate 14 loosely surrounds the fingers, no seal therebetween being required.

,The inner end'portion of stripper plate 14 is rigidly secured to a slide 24 which is carried by a slide track disposed in an extension of housing 18 and adapted for reciprocating movement therein. A retainer 25 is secured to the outer surface of housing 18 adjacent the slide track and is adapted to maintain engagement of slide 24 with the track. A pin 26 is secured to or integral with slide 24 and extends outwardly therefrom through a slot in retainer 25. Pin 26 rides in the slotted end portion of lever 13, opposite cam follower 12.

When cam follower 12 is out of cam groove 11 the slide 24 is locked in its uppermost position by a block 27 which is biased into a recess in the slide by means of a spring 28. When stripper plate 14 is to be actuated, cam follower 12 enters cam groove 11 and a cam rail 29 presses on-the end of a lock release push rod 30 in housing 18 and which pushes block 27 against spring 28 and out of the recess in slide 24.

Each bottle 3 is shown as having a relatively wide mouth and a cap or cover 31 disposed thereover to protect the contents. Cover 31 has an annular rim or flange 32 disposed adjacent the lower edge thereof.

Previously, when lever 13 was actuated to push slide 24 and stripper plate 14 downwardly, the leading edge of a seal tended to engage rim 32 which prevented further downward movement of the seal. Additional stripping action would only crumple the seal.

To prevent engagement of the cover 31 by seal 5, means are provided to expand at least the leading edge of the seal so that the seal will pass over the obstruction unhampered.

Expansion of a seal 5 is accomplished by an air jet directed at timed intervals from an air passage 33 which passes longitudinally through each finger 22. The passage 33 is provided with an orifice 34 at the lower end of each finger and with the orifice directed outwardly at an angle from the vertical axis of the finger. An orifice angle of 30 from the vertical has been found satisfactory. The approximate direction of the air jet is shown by the arrow in Fig. 7. The upper end portion of each passage 33 registers with a passage 35 disposed transversely within each slide plate 21. Each passage 35 extends from one outer edge of a slide plate 21 and through the upper end portions of the corresponding pair of fingers 22 which are sealably mounted in recesses in plate 21. The passage terminates at the finger disposed farthest from the above mentioned edge.

A small connector tube 36 is suitably mounted in a sealed relationship to the edge of each slide plate 21 and in registry with the outer end of passage 35. Connector tubes 36 are adapted to sealably receive rubber conduits 37 or the like thereon, the conduits leading from tubes 36 to a suitable manifold or header 38 which is suitably secured to'the lower portion of retainer 25.

A timed supply of air is provided to each manifold 38 in the following manner, best illustrated in Figs. 2

and 3.

Rotary member 1 is carried on the upper end of a hollow spline shaft 39, described in moredetail in the copendin-g application Serial No. 423,975 (Patent No. 2,826,884) referred to above. The member 1 is supported vertically by the combined radial and thrust bear- 40 atthe upper end of shaft 39 in a fixed support 41 which is carried by the upper end of a post 42 disposed axially inside shaft 39. Cams 8 and 11 are disposed on the outer surface of support 41. Member 1 is spaced above table 2 and rotates in unison therewith.

The lower surface of member 1 is substantially horizontal and a circular flange 43 extends downwardly therefrom which provides the inner bearing surface for a stationary ring 44. An upper bearing surface. for ring 44 is provided by the lower surface of member 1, while a lower bearing surface for ring 44 is provided by a retainer ring 45 secured to flange 43 by bolts or the like.

During operation of the machine, member 1 rotates but ring 44 is kept from rotating by a handle 46 secured thereto and extending outwardly beneath member 1 and above table 2. The outer end portion of handle 46 is fixedly secured to a bottle exhaust member 47 in a manner to be described.

A plurality of openings 48 are spaced circumferentially around the lower surface of member 1, with the number of openings corresponding in number to the number of .heads 4 in the machine. Each opening 48 communicates through a chamber in member 1 with an air conduit 49, the latter passing from member 1 to a manifold 38.

A slot 50 is disposed in the upper surface of ring 44 and is adapted to communicate with each opening 48 in succession as the machine is operated and member 1 rotates. Slot 50 communicates through a chamber in ring 44 to an air tube 51 which passes from ring 44 outwardly to a suitable source of air pressure, not shown. If desired, handle 46 may be hollow to allow passage of tube 51 therethrough. Slot 50 registers with only one opening 48 at a time.

To limit the pressure area between the horizontal mating surfaces of member 1 and ring 44, a small groove 52 is disposed around the edges of slot 50. Groove 52 communicates with the exterior through bleedoif slots 53. Any air that tends to escape between member 1 and ring 44 will be bled off through slots 53, thus preventing any possible spreading forces adjacent slot 50.

When seals are to be applied, rotation of member 1 will bring each successive opening 48 into registry with slot 50, thereby allowing air to pass from tube 51 through conduit 49 and to a manifold 38, and hence to the fingers 22 of each successive head 4.

The length of slot 50 will determine the time the air jet is applied at each head. The commencement of the air jet for each head may be accurately controlled by shifting the position of ring 44 slightly. This latter may be accomplished by making the outer connection of handle 46 to member 47 adjustable, such as by a slotted end portion 54 which is bolted to member 47.

The valve structure described above provides air only to the head which is applying a seal to a bottle or jar. Each head will receive air at timed intervals depending on the relative positions of member 1 and ring 44, and the size of slot 50.

Figs. 8 and 9 show in detail how the air jet expands a seal 5 so that it will pass over an obstruction such as rim 32. Air may be initially applied at any point in the stripping operation as the seal approaches the obstruction, depending upon the nature of the obstruction on the bottle, the size and other characteristics of the seals, etc. The pressure applied will also depend on a number of factors, 30-40 pounds per square inch having been found satisfactory.

In some instances it may only be necessary to apply jet to the leading edge of the seal 5; once the edge has passed over the obstruction the rest of the seal will easily follow. In other instances it may be necessary to use the air jet during the entire stripping operation to prevent buckling of the seal due to friction between the seal and the obstruction.

Although it would be preferable to cut the air stream off once the seal 5 is fully applied to the bottle 3, no harm would be done if air continued to pass through fingers 22 during at least a part of the upstroke of slide 24. In this instance, the leading edge of slot 50 might register with one opening 48 while the trailing edge might register with another opening, to provide air to two heads at once.

Fingers 22 are shown as substantially longer than necessary for the depth of seal shown. Seals of much greater depth may thereby be used without changing the fingers.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described and having at least one head for applying tubular seals to bottle tops and the like, a plurality of seal handling fingers secured to said head and disposed to present a substantially cylindrical seal for application to a bottle top, each of said fingers having an air passage therein and having at least one orifice connected to said air passage, a stripping member loosely slidable on said fingers for pushing a seal downwardly onto a bottle top from the fingers, and means to supply a stream of air through each passage with said stream passing through the orifices and outwardly against said seal to expand at least a portion of the seal at least momentarily as the latter is being pushed from said fingers by said stripping member to prevent engagement of the seal with any obstruction on the bottle top.

2. In a machine of the class described and having at least one head for applying tubular seals to bottle tops and the like, a plurality of seal handling fingers secured to said head and disposed to present a substantially cylindrical seal for application to a bottle top, each of said fingers having an air passage therein and having an orifice connected to said air passage and disposed adjacent the outer end portion of the finger, a stripping member loosely slidable on said fingers for pushing a seal down- Wardly onto a bottle top from the fingers, and means to supply a stream of air through each passage with said stream being directed by the orifice outwardly at an angle of approximately 30 against said seal to expand at least a portion of the seal at least momentarily as the latter is being pushed from said fingers to prevent engagement of the seal with any obstruction on the bottle p 3. In a machine for applying tubular seals to bottle tops and the like and with the bottle tops having an obstruction thereon, at least one head member having a housing, a plurality of plates disposed in a chamber in said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of seal handling fingers sealably attached at their upper ends to the outer end portions of said plates and disposed to present a substantially cylindrical seal for application to a bottle top, each of said plates having at least one air passage registering with an air passage in the fingers, said latter passage extending longitudinally through the fingers and terminating at the lower end thereof in at least one orifice, a stripping member loosely slidable on said fingers for pushing a seal downwardly onto a bottle top from the fingers, and means to supply a stream of air to the passage in each plate so that the air will pass through the fingers and orifices and be directed outwardly against said seal to expand at least a portion of the seal at least momentarily as the latter is being pushed from said fingers by said stripping member to prevent engagement of the seal with the obstruction on the bottle top.

4. In a machine for applying tubular seals to bottle tops and the like and with the bottle tops having an obstruction thereon, a rotary member, at least one sealapplying head secured to said member and rotatable therewith, a plurality of seal handling fingers secured to said head and disposed to present a seal for application to a bottle top, stripper means in engagement with said fingers for pushing said seal downwardly onto a bottle top from said fingers, and means responsive to the rotary position of said rotary member for expanding the lower portion of said seal at least momentarily as the latter is being pushed onto the bottle top to prevent catching of the seal on the obstruction.

S. A mechanism for applying tubular seals over obstructions on bottle tops and the like, comprising a rotary member, a plurality of seal applying heads secured to said member and rotatable therewith, a plurality of seal handling fingers secured to each head and disposed to present a seal for application to a bottle top, stripper means in engagement with said fingers for pushing said seal downwardly onto a bottle top from said fingers, and means responsive to the rotary position of said rotary member to supply a stream of air through the fingers of each successive head at timed intervals to expand a portion of a seal at least momentarily as the latter is being pushed onto the bottle top to prevent catching of the seal on the obstruction.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said last named means includes, a stationary ring rotatably engaged by said rotary member and having a slot therein communieating with a source of air, the portion of the rotary member adjacent said ring having a plurality of openings and with each opening connected to the fingers on a corresponding successive head, the construction being such that when said member is rotated successive openings are aligned with said slot to provide communication between the air source and the fingers on successive heads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,089,769 Strout Aug. 10, 1937 2,623,673 Holstein Dec. 30, 1952 2,630,956 Pomeroy et a1 Mar. 10, 1953 2,771,725 Carter Nov. 27, 1956 

